Electric steam iron



NOV. 19, 1940. TRICOMII ETAL 2,222,305

ELECTRIC STEAM IRON Filed Jan. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 J3 T523. T 72. v.-:1=s 1.11. V MENTOR;

tine Ingana' ATTORNEY A. TRICOMI EIAL ELECTRIC STEAM IRON Nov. 19, 1940 Filed Jan. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '5 111111114 III! INVENTOR S ATTORNEY ELECTRIC STEAM IRQN Agatino Tricomi and Edward B. Tricomi, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 8, 1940, Serial No. 312,904

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an electric steam iron.

The invention particularly relates to an electric steam iron characterized by the provision of a fiat sole base for contacting material being pressed and which has a steam generator located above and associated with control mechanism in a manner to cause steam to be generated and discharged for assisting said flat base in pressing its the said material.

Still further it is proposed that the back of said iron be provided with a water container for supplying water to said steam generator connected thereto by means of a pipe system.

The invention has for an object the provision v of a thermostatic controlled electric system for heating the iron and generator mounted on said generator in a manner to cause the same to be controlled by the passage of water through said operation when more water is pumped to said generator and for causing said system to remain in operation a shorter period of time when less water is pumped to said generator.

. Still further it is proposed that the thermostatic system be controlled by a bi-metal or other thermostatic switch mounted on said generator and having its control end disposed adjacent said pipe system to be closed thereby when cold water so is pumped into the generator.

Still further it is propsed to provide a means for increasing or decreasing the space between said pipe system and said bi-metal or other thermostatic switch in a manner to control the degree of effectiveness of the pipe system upon said bi-metal switch.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a certain construction of a pump within said water container which is capable of pumping 39 water from said container to said generator and further arranged in a manner to cause water to be sucked from a reservoir into said container to take the place of the water pumped therefrom into said generator.

% For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had. to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the so invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric steam iron constructed in accordance with this inven- 55 tion.

. pipe system to cause said system to beset into Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4- 3 of Fig. 3. 1

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-tof Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line l-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the water container, per se.

Fig. 9 is a, vertical sectional view on the line 9--9 of Fig. i.

' Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line ld-dt of Fig. i.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailed View of a portion of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a partial plan view on the line i2-i2 of Fig.6. Fig. 13 is a schematic-wiring diagram of the device. a I

Fig. la is an enlarged sectional view of the electric heater, per se.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a aligned with'each other in a manner to form a circular passage when the section it is superimposed on the section id The inlet extends through the top section id of the pin hole ex- 40 hausts and extends through the bottom section it. .After the sections have been provided with the internal passage ii they are adapted to be fabricated together to form a single unit.

A fiat electric heater i3 is mounted on the top of the flat base it and has a heavy central insulation member i3 upon which the incandescent winding i3 is positioned. This incandescent Winding is so arranged that a portion thereof extends across the top face of the heavy central insulation i8, and a portion thereof extends across the bottom of the heavy central insulation l3. Theportion of the winding which 'is extended across the bottom of the insulation '53 is adapted to heat the hat sole base iii. A

base.

freely extendedthrough the generator l3 and steam generator I4 is superimposed upon the flat electric heater l3 and is provided with a hollow chamber [4 within which the steam is adapted to be generated. A thin insulation member l3 is mounted upon the top portion of the winding l3 and is disposed between the winding and the bottom face of the generator 14 for insulating the generator from the winding. Likewise, an insulation member l3 is positioned upon the bottom of the winding I3 and is disposed between the sole plate and the winding l3". These insulation members l3 and I3 are sufiiciently thin to permit the heat to pass to the generator and to the sole plate individually of each other. However, these two insulation members 13 and I3 in conjunction with the insulation member I3 act to insulate the sole base [0 from the generator M to prevent the ready conduction of heat from the sole base I 8 to the generator [4, and vice versa.

A hollow cover I is extended over the heater I3 and the generator l4 and is maintained in position with relation to the generator by means of The screw l3 passes through an a screw l6. opening in the top of the cover l5 and threadedly engages into the generator l4. Likewise, a means is provided for retaining the generator and the electric heater l3 in position upon the flat sole This means comprises a pair of screws I! the heater l3 threadedly engaged into the top section ill of the sole base Ill. A handle. I8 is mounted on the cover {5 and provides a means by which the iron may be conveniently manipulated while beinguse'd to press material ove which it is being passed.

A hollow water storage container I9 is fixedly mounted on'the back of the handle l8. This water container l9 has a pipe 28 extending therefrom to a reservoir for conveying water from said reservoir to said container. A water pump is located within the storage container l9 and is arranged in a particular manner to pump water from the storage container to the generator and for drawing water from the reservoir to the water container to displace .the water pumped from the container to the generator. This pump comprises a cylinder 22'mounted upon the front wall of the water container l9 which has a piston 23 slidably mounted therein. This piston 23 is provided on its bottom face with a fabric sealing means 24; which is adapted to seal that portion of the container located above the piston from that portion of the containerlocated below the piston. The top portion of the cylinder 22 is connected to the interior of the water container l9 by means of a pin hole passage25 located in the top wall of the cylinder 22. A spring 26 is arranged in the bottom portion of the container and operates between the bottom wall thereof and the bottom'face of the fabric member 24 for urging the piston 23 into its up position. r

A means is provided for causing the piston 23 to be reciprocated within the container 22; This means includes a piston rod 21 which extends through the top wall of the cylinder 22. An operator rod 28 extends through the handle l8 and has one of its ends passing into the interior of the container l9. At the point where the operator rod 28 passes into the container [9 a packing gland 29 is provided for sealing the opening through which the operator rod extends. A link system 30 is extended between the inner end of the operator rod 28 and the top end of the piston rod 21 for causing the piston rod 21 to move tainer l9 and which is provided with a knob 34 downwards when the operator rod 28 is pivoted. The front end of the operator rod is extended from the front end of the handle l8 andis provided with a thumb plate 3| by which the rod 28 may be conveniently pivoted for causing the rod 21 to move downwards.

A means is also provided for controlling the stroke of the piston 23 and also the distance through which the operator rod 28 may be pivoted. This means includes a shaft 32 extending downwards from the bottom face of the piston 23 and coaxially through the spring 26. This shaft 36 also acts to centrally locate the spring 26 and prevent the same from buckling under the compressionof the piston 23.- The bottom end of the shaft 32 extends into an extension 22 threadedly mounted on the bottom wall of the cylinder 22. This extension 22 has a control handle 33extended through the bottom wall of the water conby which it may be conveniently turned for controlling the distance between the bottom end of the shaft 32 and the bottom wall of the extension 22 to control the distance through which the piston may be moved before the bottom end of the shaft strikes the bottom end of the extension. This control handle 33 is slidably extended through the opening in the bottom Wall of the container l9, but is sufficiently tight to prevent the leakage of water.

An inlet pipe 35 is connected with the interior of the cylinder 22 andhas its other end disposed adjacent the back wall of the container IS. A

valve 36 is mounted within the inlet pipe 35 and is arranged to permit a free passage of water into 'is provided for conveying the water from the pump to the generator Hi. This means comprises a section of pipe 3'! extending from the pump to the exteriorof the water container Hi. It also comprises a section of pipe 31 connected to the hollow HZ of the generator 14 and which extends through an opening formed in the back of the cover I5. These pipe sections 37 and 31 are connected together at a point between the back face of the cover l5 and the front face of .the water container H! by means of a union 38.. The section of pipe 3'! is provided with a valve 39 arranged to permit the free passage of water on the down stroke of the piston 23 but prevent the passage of water on the up stroke of the piston 23. The normal water line of the container i9 is indicated at 48 in Fig. 4.

The operation of this pump is as follows:. When the thumb plate 3| is depressed to pivot the operator rod 28 the piston 23 will move downwards within the cylinder 22 and force any water located within the bottom portion of the pump through the pipe system 3! into the hollow M of the generator I4. This downward movement of the piston 31 causes the one way valve 36 to close and the one way valve 39 to open to direct the water from the pump to the generator l4. When the operator rod 28 is released the spring 26 contained within the cylinder 22 will urge the piston 23 upwards to cause the one way valve 39 to be closed and to open the one way valve 36 to cause a quantity of water to be withdrawn from the water container [9 into the cylinder of the pump for the next down stroke thereof. Similarly, this pump is arranged to draw a quantity of water from the reservoir to displace the water pumped into the generator. 75

so i

be disengaged from each other.

This is caused upon the down strokeof the piston 23 which causes a vacuum in the top portion of the piston 22 which will cause the air located within the water container l9 above the water line iilto pass into the pump to fill the vacuum created by the down stroke of the piston.

ThiS passage of air from the water container to the piston creates a vacuum within the water container i9 to cause water to be sucked from the reservoir through the pipe 2f into the container Hi. When the piston 23 moves upwards the air contained within the top portion of the cylinder 22 will pass out through the pin hole passage 25 and into the interior of the water container #9. On eachmovement of the operator rod 28 the pump acts as described to pump a quantity of water from the container iii to the generator and to suck a quantity of water from the reservoir to the water container.

A thermostatic electric system sensitive to the temperature of the pipe system 31 is mounted upon the steam generator for controlling the operation of the electric heater 13. An electric cord 32 extends into the back of the handle it and is provided at its free end with a conventional plug 33 adapted to be engaged into a conventional house outlet. The two ends of the electric cord d2 are attached to metallic clips dd mounted in position upon the back portion of the handle it by means of screws 45. The thermostatic electric system is characterized by a bi-metal electric switch mounted on a portion of the generator i This switch is characterized by a straight piece of non-sensitive metal carrying an electrical contact 35 at its free end. Similarly, a second piece of sensitive metal 3? is disposed beneath the piece of metal and has its and bent to engage over the end of the piece of metal 35. The free end of the sensitive piece of metal t? carries a contact 86 which is adapted to engage the contact at to complete a circuit 59 which also includes the incandescent winding l3- of the electric heater i3. These pieces of metal 5 and d? are spaced from each other by means of an insulation member at, and are in turn mounted upon a piece of insulation member 58 mounted upon the generator i i.

This bi-metal switch is so mounted upon the generator that the operative bent end of the sensitive piece of metal 51 is disposed immediately adjacent the section of pipe i-l'l to be influenced thereby as cool water, passes therethrough. When cool water is pumped through the section of pipe 31 it will tend to cool the atmosphere therearound and bend the end of the sensitive piece of metal 67 to cause the contacts i5 and 68 to engage each other. Likewise, as the temperature of the surrounding temperature rises when water is not being pumped through the section of pipe 31 it will cause the sensitive piece of metal 61 to be bent to a position in which the contacts M5 and it will sensitive piece of metal has a member 5! attached thereto and which is provided with a prong 52 which extends upwards into an opening formed in the handle i8 to contact one of the screws 65. The sensitive piece of metal t? is connected by means oi a connecting member 53 to one end of the incandescent winding 88' of the electric heater IS. The other end of the incandescent winding i3 is provided with a metallic member 5a provided with an upwardly extending prong 55. This prong 55 extends upwards into another opening formed in thehan- The nondle 18 to contact the other. screw 5 and combracket 56 and has its bottom end bearing against an insulation member 59 mounted upon the top face of the nonsensitive piece of metal 45. This screw 58 extends through an opening formed in the top face of the cover l5 and is provided with a handle 59 by which it may be conveniently rotated to change its relative position with relation to the bracket It and cause a greater or lesser amount to be extended from the bottom face thereof. This movement of the screw 58 also causes the nonsensitive piece of metal 35 to be flexed to control the distance between the contacts iii and 43 to vary the temperature required for causing the contacts to engage each other and for causing the contacts to disengage each other. Thus the bi-metal switch may be adjusted to cause the iron to be heated to a greater degree for pressing material such as cotton, wool, etc., and to be heated to a lesser degree for pressing silks and acetates. The knob 59 is provided with a pointer 59*- acting across a scale 60 formed on the top of the cover to indicate the adjustment of the screw for low, medium or high heat.

The operation of the heating unit is as follows:

The heating unit is automatically controlled by means of a thermostatic switch for various -materials inasmuch as the unit will heat to a high non-scorch heat for all fabrics. Various degrees of heat may be obtained from the unit to steam and press materials of various consistencies. For example, in pressing acetates steam is needed, but not in such great quantity, and a low heat is also required. This may be obtained by merely pressing the material with the right amount of steam which will cause the iron to maintain the right temperature. In pressing cotton, which requires a. high degree of. heat, it normally follows that a higher degree of heat also demands a higher quantity of mois ture and therefore by using a greater quantity of steam the unit will automatically increase its heat. This automatic operation is due to the fact that materials requiring a larger quantity of steam or moisture to cause the same to be pressed, naturally require a higher amount of heat to press or bake the nap consistency of the material. The same is true for materials requiring a lesser amount of steam which naturally require a lesser'amount of heat.

Bearing this in mind, it is noted that as the heat is controlled by the amount ofsteam actually needed by the material, the use of the proper amount of steam on the material automatically adjusts the proper amount of heat developed for the material by theheating unit by means of the thermostatic bi-metal switch which is located on ,top of the steam generator with its operative end located near the inlet water pipe section 3%. If water enters through this pipe 31, which is at the time hot, it naturally becomes cool, causing the tip end of the bottom of the switch to react from the air cooled by the water that is expelled from the pump through which the water entered the A screw 58 isill) steam generator. Said reaction by the metallic switch causes the contacts 46 and 48 to be engaged, thus allowing the heating unit to heat the sole base l and also supply heat to the steam generator M to transform the water that has entered into steam. As we continue to pump water through the pipe section 31 into the generator M the cooling efiects thereof prolong the duration of engagement of the contacts 46 and 48, causing more heat to be developed to heat the unit to a higher degree, useful in pressing cottons, etc. I

The continued pumping of water to the generator permits the iron to heat to a high non-scorch temperature and the heat radiated from the steam generator M will cause the operative end of the thermostatic bi-metal switch to be flexed and cause the contacts 46 and48 to be disengaged when the heat thereofvreaches a sufllciently high temperature to afiect the operation of theswitch.

When the pump is actuated by movement of the control stem 38 water will enter through the pipe section 31 and cool the generator id, but not suificiently enough to cause the thermostat to make contact, but on the second stroke when the 1 pipe 31 becomes suflflciently cold to cause the bent end of the sensitive metal plate 41 to bend and temporarily make contact. In the meantime the generator cooling proportionately will cause the thermostat switch to react normally and hold the said contact if more watenis being 'allowed'to enter the generator at this time. If no more water is allowed to enter the generator it will heat up again to a high non-scorch heat temperature and break the contact. While the steam generator had a high non-scorch steam temperature the same condition prevailed in the fiat sole base l0. When. the water entered the generator the sole base temperature was not in creased nor cooled thereby,, but when the second water entered the generator and ,the thermostat made contact indicating the fact that material being pressed needed more steam, it naturally also needed more heat.

The fact is, that regardless of the amount of steam being generated it will absorb a percentage of the heat from the sole base Hi, naturally keeping the temperature of the sole base I!) at the same level. This condition is made possible by using insulation members between the sole base Hi and the steam generator l4 and upon which the incandescent winding l3 is mounted. Thus as the steam generator cools the insulation members between the generator and sole base prevents the cooling of the generator from acting upon the sole base, thus creating two independent temperatures, one for the sole base and one for the generator. The reason for the two temperatures is that the generator may cool and heat rapidly without afiecting the temperature of the sole base, although the sole base is subject to a rising temperature, but this condition is taken care of by the absorption of heat from the sole base by the material being pressed.

According to the modification of the invention shown inFigs. l5 and 16 the construction of the electric steam iron is similar to that previously described, except for the provision of a means for controlling the space between the pipe section 31' and the operative end of the thermostatic bimetal switch. This means comprises an eccentric bushing 50 mounted upon the pipe section 3'!" and held'in various turned positions thereon by means of a set screw 5|. This bushing may be turned to various positions upon the pipe section the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the-appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric steam iron, at flat sole base having an internal passage with an inlet on the top of the base anda plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottom of the base, a flat electric heater mounted on the top of said fiat base and having a heavy central heat insulation member with sections of the incandescent winding on the top' and bottom thereof, a steam generator mounted on the top of said heater, a hollow cover mounted on the top of said base for encasing said be identified by like reference.

heater and steam generator, a handle on said cover, a water storage container mounted on the rear of said handle, a water pump in said con-. tainer and having a rod extending through said handle and at its outer end having a finger operable handle and a pipe system connecting the exhaust of said pump ,with the steam generator, and a thermostatic electric system sensitive to the temperature of said pipe system of said steam generator for controlling said electric heater.

" 2. man electric steam iron, a fiat sole base having an internal passage with an inlet on. the top of the base and a plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottom, of the base, a fiat electric heater mounted on the top of said'fiat ,base and having a heavy central heat insulation member with sections of the incandescent winding on the top and bottom thereof, a steam generator mounted on the top of said heater, a hollow cover mounted on the top of said base forencasing said heater and steam generator, a handle on said cover, a water storage container mounted on the rear of said handle, a water pump in said container and having a rod extending through said handle and at its outer end having a finger operable handle and a pipe system connecting the exhaust of said pump with the steam generator, and a thermostatic electric system sensitive to the temperature of said pipe system of said steam generator for controlling said electric heater, said thermostatic electric system including a thermostatic bi-metal switch mounted upon said generator and having its operative and disposed adjacent said pipe system to be influenced by the temperature of the'water passing therethrough.

3. In an electric steam iron, a flat sole base having an internal passage with an inlet on the top of the base and a plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottom of the base, a flat electric heater mounted on the top of said fiat base and having a heavy central heat insulation member with sections of the incandescent wind-' ing on the top and bottom thereof, a steam generator mounted on the top of said heater, a hollow cover mounted on the top of said base for encasing said heater and steam generator,

pump in said container and having a rod extending through said handle and at its outer end having a finger operable handle and a pipe system connecting the exhaust of said pump with the steam generator, and a thermostatic electric system sensitive to the temperature of said pipe system of said steam generator for controlling said electric heater, said thermostatic electric system including a thermostatic bi-metal switch mounted upon said generator and having its operative end disposed adjacent said pipe system to be influenced by the temperature of the water passing therethrough, said switch being characterized by a stiff metallic member and a sensitive metallic member, contacts mounted on the ends of said members, said sensitive metallic member being arranged to flex to cause said contacts to engage each other when the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere goes down, and to disengage said contacts when the temperature of saidatmosphere goes up.

4. In an electric steam iron, a flat sole base having an internal passage with an inlet on the top of the base and a plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottom of the base, a fiatelectric heater mounted on the top of said fiat base and having a heavy central heat insulation memberwith sections of the incandescent winding on the top and bottom thereof, a steam generator mounted on the top of said heater, a hollow cover mounted on the top of said base for encasing said heater and steam generator, a handle on said cover, a water storage container mounted on the rear of said handle, a water pump in said container and having a rod exsystem to be influenced by the temperature ofv the water passing therethrough, and a means for controlling the temperature at which said thermostatic switch will operate.

5. In an electric steam iron, a. flat sole base having an internal passage with an inlet on the top of the base and a plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottom of the base, a flat electric heater mounted on the top of said flat base and having a heavy central heat insulation member with sections of the incandescent winding on the top and bottom thereof, a steam generator mounted on the top of said heater, a hollow cover mounted on the top of said 'base for encasing said heater and steam generator, a

handle on said cover, a water storage container J mounted on the rear of said handle, a water to be influenced by the temperature of the water passing therethrough, and a means for controlling the temperature at which said thermostatic switch will operate, said means comprising an adjustment screw engaging said switch for increasing the space between the contacts thereof for varying the distance through which said sensitive element must flex before said contacts will engage each other.

6. In an electric steam iron, a flat sole base having an internal passage with an-inlet on the top of the base and a plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottom of the base, a flat electric heater mounted on the top of said fiat base and having a heavy central heat insulation member with sections of the incandescent winding on the top and bottom thereof, a steam generator mounted on the topof said heater, a hollow cover mounted on the top of said base for encasing said heater and steam generator, a handle on said cover, a water storage container mounted on the rear of said handle, a Water pump in said container and having a rod extending through said handle and at its outer end having a finger operable handle and a pipe system connecting the exhaust of said pump with the steamgenerator, and a thermostatic electric system sensitive to the temperature of said pipe system of said steam generator for controlling said electric heater, said thermostatic electric system including athe'rmostatic bi-metal switch mounted upon said generator and having its operative end disposed adjacent said pipe system to be influenced by the temperature of the water passing therethrough, and a means for controlling the temperature at which said thermostatic switch .will operate, said water pump being disposed within said water storage container and arranged to pump water from said water container to said generator and to simultaneously suck a quantity of water from a'reservoir to said water container to displace the water pumped to said generator.

'7. In an electric steam iron, a flat sole base having an internal passage with an inlet on the top of the base and a plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottom of the base, a flat electric heater mounted on the top of said flat base and having a heavy central heat insulation member with sections of the incandescent winding on the top and bottom thereof, a steam gen- .erator mounted on the top of said heater, a

hollow cover mounted on the top of said base for encasing said heater and steam generator, a handle on said cover, a water storage container mounted .on the rear of said handle, a water pump in saidcontainer and having a rod extending through said handle and at its outer end having a finger operable handle and a pipe system connecting the exhaust of said pump with the steam generator, and'a thermostatic electric system sensitive to the temperature of said pipe system of said steam generator for controlling said electric heater, said thermostatic electric system including a thermostatic bimetal switch mounted upon said generator and having its operative end disposed adjacent said simultaneously suck a quantity of water from a reservoir to said water container to displace the water pumped to said generator, said pump having a piston dividing the interior thereof into a bottom portion forcausing water to be pumped from said container to said generator and a top portion for causing the water to be sucked from said reservoir to said container on one downward movement of said piston.

8. In an electric steam iron, a-fiat sole base having an internal passage with an inlet on the top ofthe base and a plurality of pin hole exhausts upon the bottomof the base, a fiat electric heater mounted on the top of said fiat base and having a heavy central heat insulation member with sections of the incandescent winding on the top and bottom thereof, a steam generator mounted on the top of said heater, a-

hollow cover mounted on the top of said base pipe system and said thermostatic electric system controlling the radiation of heat between these parts to influence the operation of said thermostatic system.

AGATINO 'I'RICOMI. EDWARD B. TRICOMI. 

